Unitary shoulder pad and strap system

ABSTRACT

The unitary shoulder pad and strap system generally provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system is positionable on a shoulder being situated for supporting a strapped item on a user&#39;s shoulder. The present invention consists of an elongated rubbery pad composed of a rubbery material and includes an elongated rectangular bore, further includes a strap that situated within the rectangular bore, and further includes a top segment, and still further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. The shoulder strap contained within the elongated bore and can be fastened to such objects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computer cases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shoulder pad and shoulderstraps and more specifically it relates to a unitary shoulder pad andstrap system for supporting a shoulder strap on a user's shoulder. It isoften necessary to carry strapped items such as camera cases, computercases, rifles and attaché cases. The shoulder of the typical personslopes downward from the base of the neck to the arm. This downwardslope often causes shoulder straps to slide down and off the shoulder.People often have a tendency to account for this by raising theelevation of the shoulder and arm often leading to muscle fatigue andsoreness in the shoulder area. The present invention relates to aunitary shoulder pad and strap system and more particularly pertains tosupporting a shoulder strap on a user and to facilitate the retaining ofthe shoulder strap on a shoulder of the user regardless of thedownwardly sloping angle of the shoulder, the retaining being done in asafe, reliable, convenient and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a shoulder pad and shoulder strapwhich provides a new and improved shoulder pad and strap system. Aunitary shoulder pad is positionable on a shoulder situated forsupporting a strap on a users shoulder. The present invention consistsof an elongated rubbery pad composed of a rubbery material and includesan elongated rectangular bore, further includes a strap that situatedwithin the rectangular bore, and further includes a top segment, andstill further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. The shoulderstrap contained within the elongated bore and can be fastened to suchobjects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computer cases.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction or to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

An object is to provide a unitary shoulder pad and strap system forsupporting a shoulder strap on a user's shoulder. It is often necessaryto carry strapped items such as camera cases, computer cases, rifles andattaché cases. The shoulder of the typical person slopes downward fromthe base of the neck to the arm. This downward slope often causesshoulder straps to slide down and off the shoulder. People often have atendency to account for this by raising the elevation of the shoulderand arm often leading to muscle fatigue and soreness in the shoulderarea. The present invention relates to a shoulder pad and moreparticularly pertains to supporting a shoulder strap on a user and tofacilitate the retaining of the shoulder strap on a shoulder of the userregardless of the downwardly sloping angle of the shoulder, theretaining being done in a safe, reliable, convenient and economicalmanner

Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new andimproved unitary shoulder pad and strap system which has all ofadvantages of the prior art shoulder pads of known designs andconfigurations and none of the disadvantages.

Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new andimproved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is of durable andreliable construction.

Another object is to provide a unitary shoulder pad and strap systemthat provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap systemthat reduces shoulder muscle strain of the shoulder.

Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new andimproved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is susceptible oflower cost to manufacturer with regards to both material and labor, andwhich is accordingly susceptible to low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such a shoulder strap economically available tothe buying public.

Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new andimproved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is positionable on auser's shoulder situated for enclosing and supporting a strap on auser's shoulder. The present invention is comprised of a flexiblerubbery elongated rubbery pad being composed of a rubbery material andincludes an elongated rectangular bore, and further includes a topsegment, and further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. Ashoulder strap is positioned through the elongated bore and can befastened to such objects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computercases.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention. To theaccomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may beembodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attentionbeing called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrativeonly, and that changes may be made in the specific constructionillustrated and described within the scope of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the unitary shoulder pad and strapsystem with shoulder pad and strap system 10 and being worn on theuser's shoulder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the unitary shoulder pad and strapsystem 10 in FIG. 1 in its resting position with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the invention's first alternative embodiment ofthe present invention with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of the first alternateembodiment of the present invention with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. present invention with the strap 50 removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 it will there be seen that an illustrativeembodiment of the new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap systemis denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10. The unitary shoulderpad and strap system 10 is displayed over the user's shoulder and havingsmaller outside surface 24 situated towards the user's neck area.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the unitary shoulder pad and strap system10 comprises an elongated rubbery pad 12, an elongated bore 14, topsegment 16, a smaller outside surface 24, an opposing larger outsidesurface 26, base 18 having a wedge shape, base 18 further having anupper surface 20 and lower surface 22, the upper surface 20 and lowersurface 22 being significantly closer together towards he smalleroutside surface 24 and significantly farther apart towards the largeroutside surface 26, the upper surface 20 being in situated for contactwith the shoulder strap and lower surface 22 being situated for contactwith the users shoulder, the upper surface 20 being at a decline fromoutside surface 26 towards inside outside surface 24, and the lowersurface 22 being at an incline from larger outside surface 26 towardssmaller outside surface 24, allowing for a wedge shape and situating theshoulder strap 50 in a more parallel position with the ground reducingthe shoulder strap 50 from having a sloping position as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 further shows the unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 havingshoulder strap 50 situated inside the elongated bore 14 of the elongatedrubbery pad 12.

The elongated rubbery pad 12 is composed of a rubbery material. Therubbery material selected from but not limited to, a group of moldablepolymers and foam rubbers. Extrusion molding has been found to be wellsuited for this form of construction of this group of moldable polymersand foam rubbers.

In FIG. 5 as viewed from the rear, unitary shoulder pad and strap system10 having the ability to flex as is depicted by the broken lines andillustrating the unitary shoulder pad and strap system's 10conformability when placed on a user's shoulder while under the downwardforce of the shoulder strap 50 attached to an object being carried.

FIGS. 6 and 7 shows the first alternate embodiment 100 of the inventionwherein bottom the base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raisedrib projections 102 being integral with the base's lower surface.

FIGS. 8 and 9 shows the second alternate embodiment 200 of the inventionwherein bottom the base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raisedrib projections 202 being integral with the base's lower surface.Further is shown the smaller outside surface 224 and opposing largeroutside surface 226 having circular edges.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodimentof the invention along with some of its variations. The terms,descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way ofillustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in theart will recognize that many variations are possible within the spiritand scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in theirbroadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

1. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system comprising in combination: Anelongated rubbery pad, an elongated bore and a strap situated within thebore, a smaller outside surface, an opposing larger outside surface, atop segment, a base having a wedge shape and having an upper surface anda lower surface, the upper surface being situated for contact with theshoulder strap and lower surface situated for contact with the user'sshoulder, the elongated rubbery pad being composed of a rubbery materialselected from but not limited to, a group of moldable polymers and foamrubbers consisting of poly latex, neoprene, and ethylene propylene dieneMonomer.
 2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the rubbery materialis ethylene propylene diene Monomer.
 3. The system set forth in claim 1wherein the elongated bore being rectangular in shape.
 5. The system setforth in claim 1 wherein the base having shoulder contactinglongitudinal raised rib projections being integral with the base's lowersurface.
 6. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system comprising incombination: An elongated rubbery pad , an elongated rectangular boreand a strap situated within the rectangular bore, a smaller outsidesurface, an opposing larger outside surface, a top segment, a basehaving a wedge shape and having an upper surface and a lower surface,the upper surface and a lower surface being significantly closertogether towards the smaller outside surface and significantly fartherapart towards the larger outside surface, the upper surface being insituated for contact with the shoulder strap and lower surface situatedfor contact with the users shoulder, the upper surface being at adecline from larger outside surface towards smaller outside surface, andthe lower surface being at an incline from larger outside surfacetowards smaller outside surface, allowing for a wedge shape situatingthe shoulder strap being more parallel position with the ground reducingthe shoulder strap from having a sloping position. The elongated rubberypad is composed of a rubbery material, the rubbery material selectedfrom but not limited to, a group of moldable polymers and foam rubbersincluding latex, neoprene, ethylene propylene diene Monomer. The basehaving shoulder contacting longitudinal raised rib projections beingintegral with the base's lower surface.